This sensitive report into the "culture and leadership" at Nottingham City Council has so far been kept hidden in a locked cabinet at Council House. Classed as "confidential", the city council has systematically tried to keep the report out of the public domain.

In February, Stephanie Pearson, the information governance officer of Nottingham City Council, refused to provide the report, which was requested by a councilor and the local Evening Post newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act. The Council has always argued that the information disclosed in the report is "not in the public interest". It is also claimed that those seeking exposure of the controversial documents have not demonstrated a "need to know" its contents.

The document, which was commissioned by the former deputy chief executive Adrienne Roberts in June 2006 and written by Hardmoor Associates cost tax payers almost 30,000 pounds. After having been read by Adrienne Roberts and head of the Council Jon Collins, the report was never publicized.

Both the Evening Post and Liberal Democrat councilor Tony Sutton filed requests for the document to be released under the Freedom of Information Act. Stephanie Pearson, the information governance officer of Nottingham City Council, refused to provide the information. In a response she argued that the disclosure of the report is "not in the public interest".

On January 6th another council official wrote: "The information is highly sensitive and goes to the core of the management of the authority." In appeal, the disclosure of the report was turned down again, though some details, including a letter concerning the commissioning of the report and legal fees, were released.